Gymnastics Coaching.com

Valentin Uzunov posted an article on The Gym Press:

… a 12 week off-season sprint training program, for preadolescent gymnasts (7-12 years of age), who have not had formal sprint training. A detailed discussion is presented on the theoretical and practical application of the key concepts to effective sprinting for vault: optimized running mechanics, start of run-up and acceleration. The methodology behind this program is based on current track and field coaching methods, scientific literature on sprinting biomechanics and preadolescence speed and strength training principles. …

read the full abstract

It’s available to download for a few dollars. (This is a great way to support Valentin’s work studying the art and science of gymnastics coaching.)

He’s posted a number of videos on TheGymPress channel supporting this article.

One sample is a drill that I use a lot – Partner hamstring curls. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Gymnasts often have a muscular imbalance: their quads are too strong relative to the hamstrings. Partner hamstring curls are ideal for getting close to a maximum contraction safely.

We’re seeing by far the best online coverage ever of a Trampoline and Tumbling World Championships.

From FIG …

… It will be exciting to watch Japan’s world class Trampoline gymnasts. At the last two world championships, Tetsuya Sotomura and Yasuhiro Ueyama medalled in Individual as well as Synchronised Trampoline, topping by their joint Gold in 2007.

More recently, their team-mates Shusuke Nagasaki and Masaki Ito won this year’s World Games and the 2009 World Cup season in Synchro. And no matter who wins the race in St Petersburg, these four gymnasts make a hell of a team! …

meet many more of the competitors – Trampoline stars line up for action!

Check, too, AcrobaticSports.com available in French and English.

FIG is posting some very good pics on the official competition website.

click through to one of the photo gallery pages

Will be offline Nov. 11-28 trekking the Everest region of Nepal.

Andy Thornton did an analysis of Kyla Ross vis-a-vis past U.S. Jr. National Champions. He compared Kyla against Carly Patterson, Shawn Johnson, Kim Zmeskal and all the rest.

A couple of interesting points jumped out at me:

… for American female gymnasts, the average time lapse between winning a first junior national title and reaching peak competitive form is about 2.3 years. So we can expect Rebecca Bross to be in peak form this year, Jordyn Wieber to reach her peak in 2010, and Kyla Ross to reach her peak in 2011. …

Critically important:

… The average peak age … has been 15.7. Hmmm…. that’s younger than the required age of 16 to compete at world or Olympic competition. Great! The gymnasts can go to their first world championships or Olympic Games while they’re on the way down from their peak. Makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? …

I know many elite coaches who project their gymnasts to peak at age-16.

Andy also posted all 4 of Kyla’s routines if you want to see how she compares as a Jr. against the past greats.

Click PLAY or watch her Vault on YouTube.

There’s much, much more if you click through to American Gymnast – When does history say Kyla Ross will peak?

Support that site by purchasing products there if you want to help Andrew continue this kind of excellent blogging.

Suzanne has not updated her own blog since July.

But Aunt Joyce posted an update:

… Suzanne Yoculan is returning to gymnastics. This time she is going to be a commentator. Yoculan is scheduled to make her commentary debut on ESPN/ESPN2 for the UGA vs. Alabama meet as a guest commentator with Bart Conner and Kathy Johnson Clarke.

Yoculan is also expected to be a guest commentator for Universal Sports, CBS and may commentate on the local southern sports networks. …

I’m looking forward to it. She a very interesting and entertaining person.

Aomori University won the 2009 All Japan Team Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships.

But don’t expect to see a male version of the Women’s sport.

This is must see video. Great artistry, precision, synchronicity. Difficult tumbling. Sections that could be called Acrobatic Gymnastics.

In fact, this team could go to work for Cirque du Soleil tomorrow. A riveting performance.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Japan has been doing male team performances like this for over 50yrs.

For the first time I found this Men’s Rhythmic Gymnastics website. It’s not kept updated, however.

Rhythmic Gymnastics is a competitive sport under the authority of F.I.G. (International Gymnastics Federation). Currently, only the women’s portion of rhythmic gymnastics is recognized by FIG – men’s rhythmic gymnastics is yet to get FIG approval. The possibilities and opportunities men’s rhythmic gymnastics presents are endless. It is up to each and everyone of us to work hard to make the dream a reality.

MenRG.com

Thanks Chris Houston for sending us the link.

Anysia Unick, from Stampede City in my home town Calgary, finished 7th in the Jr Pan-Am all-around competition and was the only Canadian member to qualify to all four event finals on Sunday. She won the bronze medal on beam.

Congrats to Anysia and her coaches Dave and Judy.

photo from Gymnix competition

Thanks Chrissy.

USA Gymnastics linked to full results, posting the best write-up on the meet, so far.

Most critical for the participating nations is qualifying for the first ever Youth Olympic Games.

… The Junior Pan American Championships was the continental qualifier for North, South and Central America for the Youth Olympic Games. Six women and five men, with a maximum of one spot per country, will qualify from the event for the Youth Olympics. …

Click on any of the links below for more.

USA wins team gold, sweeps all-around at Junior Pan American Championships

U.S. men win 2 silver medals at Junior Pan American Championships

A few Grace Chui photos from St Petersburg:

Wait a minute. … That bear is actually from a Russian circus called Sadka.

Trampoline World Championships 2009 – official home page